Operation Christmas and New Year 2025, the annual statewide road traffic safety campaign, concluded on Sunday, with eight people losing their lives on NSW roads during the 17-day period. 

The high-visibility operation, which ran in conjunction with the double demerits period, began on Friday, 19 December 2025. 

The operation involved Traffic and Highway Patrol Command police, as well as officers from all commands and districts across the state, and saw police target drink and drug driving, fatigue, mobile phone use, speeding and seat belt and helmet offences. 

Across NSW, police conducted 29,302 random drug tests, with 2,415 drug-driving offences detected. 

Police also conducted 597,703 breath tests, with 939 drink-driving offences recorded. 

40,875 Traffic Infringement Notices were issued, with officers detecting 12,622 speed-related offences, 1200 mobile phone offences, and 669 seatbelt/helmet-related offences.

Closer to home, in the Northern Region, which includes Lismore and the Northern Rivers, there were 11,571 infringements; 4,064 were speeding infringements.

There were 116,029 breath tests, 289 PCA charges and 729 positive drug-driving tests.

Unfortunately, there were 287 major crashes and three (3) fatalities.

One incident of note occurred about 1.45pm on Sunday, 4 January 2026, when officers from Richmond Police District were called to Ferngrove Drive, Ballina, following reports of a single-vehicle crash.

Police were told a 61-year-old woman was driving an SUV on Tamarind Drive when she entered a roundabout and allegedly made a left turn from the right lane before she crashed into a pedestrian traffic refuge, ripping out the steel rails.

The woman allegedly continued through a Give Way sign and over a roundabout, causing the tyres to deflate before she drove through a wooden fence.

She allegedly returned a roadside reading of 0.302 before she refused a breath analysis. She was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice at Ballina Local Court in February 2026.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said the operation’s results should concern everyone. 

“We are seeing alarming rates of drug and drink driving on our roads. There is no excuse to get behind the wheel of a car with alcohol or drugs in your system, the same goes for speeding, distracted driving and not wearing a seatbelt or a helmet. 

“Anyone who breaks the law is not just gambling with their life, but with the lives of their passengers and others on the road. 

“Police are doing their job but we need everyone else to do theirs. Drive like your life depends on it – because it does.”

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said while most drivers were well behaved, police have seen a concerning rise in the number of drug detections made on NSW roads. 

“Most drivers are heeding advice and not partaking in risky driving behaviour; however, more than 2400 people tested positive to driving with drugs in their system during the 17-day operation,” Assistant Commissioner Driver said. 

“Our message remains clear and simple: if you choose to consume alcohol or drugs, do not drive. 

“Tragically, eight people also lost their lives on our roads during the period. That’s eight families whose lives have changed forever. 

“While Operation Christmas and New Year 2025 has concluded, the school holidays are ongoing and families are on the roads across the state. 

“We urge everyone to drive to the conditions and take their responsibility as a motorist seriously – it could be the difference in saving someone’s life.”